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San Angelo offers a delightful mixture of arts and culture of West Texas, from symphonic music to country-western, from classical ballet to the folk dances of Mexico. You can enjoy live theater at Angelo Civic Theatre and on the Angelo State University campus. The Old Chicken Farm Art Center displays works by visual artists of all media, and the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts houses continually changing exhibits by artists from Texas and around the world.

Arts

Angelo Civic Theatre:www.angelocivictheatre.com 1936 Sherwood Way, 949-4400, A variety of shows are offered by act. In the summer, adults and children can participate in theater workshops where they learn techniques to use in upcoming plays. Box office hours: noon–5:30 p.m. Monday–Saturday. Tickets available a week before the show begins. Prices vary.Art-Walk: 3rd Thursday of the month (excluding April) San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, 1 Love Street, (325) 653-3333 & Downtown San Angelo, Inc., 36 E. Twohig, Suite 110, (325) 655-2345Arts at ASU:www.angelo.edu ASU’s Robert G. and Nona K. Carr Education-Fine Arts Building, 942-2000. A variety of musicals, comedies and dramas are presented throughout the year. Call for reservations, schedule and ticket information.San Angelo Civic Ballet Inc.: 15 W. Beauregard Ave., 653-8877San Angelo Cultural Affairs Council:www.sananageloarts.com 36 E. Twohig Ave., 653-6793. The Council presents, promotes, and improves artistic and cultural activities in San Angelo. They sponsor the annual San Angelo’s Wine and Food Festival in April and the Cactus Jazz and Blues Festival in September.San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts:www.samfa.org. See description under ”Museums.” 1 Love St., 653-3333, San Angelo Symphony:www.sanangelosymphony.org 36 E. Twohig Ave., second floor, 658-5877, A variety of concerts are hosted throughout the year with featured artists and the symphony orchestra. In addition to the orchestra, groups of community singers organized as the San Angelo Chorale also perform throughout the year. The symphony is best known for the July Pops Concert held on July 3 each year.San Angelo Philharmonic Society: 949-1751, Twin Mountain Tonesmen Men’s Chorus: www.tonesmen.org 947-TONE (8663)

9-11 Memorial: S. Oakes St., north of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Art. Monument dedicated in memory of those, including Judy Rowlett of San Angelo, who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Steel for the monument was acquired from the World Trade Center, Ground Zero. Dedicated Sept. 8, 2003.

Annex Eagle:100 Court St., west side of Tom Green County Annex. Artist unknown. This eagle is one of two which adorned the front of the First National Bank building, built in 1904, on the southeast corner of W. Beauregard Ave. and S. Chadbourne St. When the original building was demolished in 1962, the bank moved to Court St. The two eagles were brought to the new building to retain some of the bank’s history. Completed 1904.

Banking on West Texas:2201 Sherwood Way at Texas State Bank. Terry S. Gilbreth, Artist. Sculpture of a cowboy resembles a West Texas rancher confidently leaving the bank with a successful loan. Unveiled May 2000.

Bobcat:100 Cottonwood St., Central High School campus near the cafeteria and office buildings. John Arthur Cavness, Artist. Bronze bobcat sculpture. The artist was a 1976 graduate of Central High School. Dedicated May 20, 1977.

Cowboy Sculpture:Sculpture is located at Bryant Blvd. and 3rd Street. Scott Sustek’s larger than life bronze statue by depicts a cowboy is seen waving and welcoming visitors coming in from the north into San Angelo and waving goodbye to travelers headed north.

Curl:1 Love St., San Angelo Museum of Fine Art. Jack Arthur Cavness, Artist. Sculpture that from the museum door displays a pattern of four diamonds. From the parking lot, a 90° rotation, the sculpture appears to have an “S” shape. Completed 2004.

Garden Sprite:18 E. Ave. A, in the tiered plaza. L’Deane Trueblood, Artist. Sculpture of a child reading dedicated to the children of San Angelo. Completed May 2001.

Helping Hands:72 W. College St., City Hall Plaza, John Vin Klarek, Artist. Statue commissioned by San Angelo Firefighters to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the San Angelo Fire Department. The base is made out of stones from the Ben Ficklin Courthouse and contains a time capsule. Completed 1986.

Historic Murals of San Angelo: These wall depictions can be observed throughout the downtown San Angelo area and include the Blacksmith Mural, Transportation, Chadbourne St., Ranching Murals and the Elmer Kelton Memorial Mural as Military History Mural is complete. An audio cell phone tour is available which provides the history of each of the wall paintings. The number is posted at each site and cell phone call is free. A wonderful way to learn the history of San Angelo. Visit www.historicmuralsofsanangelo.org

Iron Sharpens Iron Mural:307 N. Oakes, south side of Giselle’s Raw Furniture. The Dayster Tribe (four members of the House of Faith), Artists. Mural that depicts brothers building up brothers. Completed Summer 2003.

Logan’s Apatosaurus:300 block of River Dr., Kids’ Kingdom in Santa Fe Park. Dan Raven, Artist. Limestone dinosaur sculpture created as a gift to the children of San Angelo. Dedicated September 2003.

Jumanos Mission Monument:1000 block of Rio Concho Dr. Marks the site where Reverend Fray Juan De Ortega O.F.M. established a mission for the Jumanos Indians in 1632.

Minerva:902 Pecos St. Jim Bean Photography, John Arthur Cavness, Artist. Sculpture that has four unique viewing angles. Two of which are that from one direction appears to be a cube and from a different direction is a diamond. Completed 2001.

Mosaic Art:along the Concho River Walk, by Art In Uncommon Places group. Each art peice sits along San Angelo’s newly redesigned river walk, either under or beside each of the bridges between South Abe and South Oak Streets. Culminating a six-year project envisioned by AIUP, the large outdoor mosiac art pieces have been designed by seven San Angelo artists using primarily recycled materials. Many of the pieces serve as benches or picnic stations for visitors to utilize at their leisure.

Mosaic Car:427 S. Oakes, in front of the old filling station, east of the Museum of Fine Art. Melodie McDonald, Designer, aided by 200+ volunteers. Mosaic-tiled 1967 Volkswagen Beetle is the first in a series part of functional sculptures by Art in Uncommon Places, a group committed to advancing the arts in San Angelo. Completed 2005.

RAN:900 W. Beauregard Ave., Municipal Rose Garden in Civic League Park. John Raimondi, Artist. Metal statue fabricated with assistance of students from San Angelo Lake View and San Angelo Central High Schools. Completed May 1979.

Rebirth of an Old Friend:34 E. Ave. D., between the Pavilions in El Paseo de Santa Angela. Sculpture of three grazing buffalo dedicated in the honor of San Angelo author Elmer Kelton. This piece memorializes Kelton’s book “The Wolf and the Buffalo,” which is set around Fort Concho in the post Civil War years. Dedicated Dec. 4, 2003.

Passing It On: 18 E. Ave. A in the tiered plaza. Linda Chandler, Artist. Statue of a cowboy and a boy was given to the city by the West Texas Boys Ranch on the ranch’s 50th anniversary. Dedicated August 23, 1997.

Pearl of the Conchos:North Concho River next to the Celebration Bridge in Bart DeWitt Park. Garland Weeks, Artist. Sculpture of a mermaid holding a Concho Pearl was rendered this from an original work created by San Angelo resident Jayne Beck in 1992. Dedicated June 11, 1994.

SAFD:306 W. 1st St., Central Fire Station. Statue dedicated to the Firefighters of San Angelo. This is a scale model of a larger monument located in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Dedicated December 2005.

Trinity Sisters:The project is located on the bus stop at North Chadbourne & 18th Street. This sculpture consists of three large steel cut-out panels with tile, glass, pottery and other materials adorning it. Julie Raymond and Sue Rainey crafted this brightly colored red blue & yellow art sculpture. IT includes an iron bench in front for relaxing and enjoying the neighborhood.

Wool Capital Landmark “200%”:1400 block of S. Bryant Blvd. at intersection of W. Ave. J. Don Bowen, Artist. Sculpture of a Rambouillet ewe and twin lambs dedicated in recognition of San Angelo’s heritage as the Wool Capital. It is named for the stockman’s ideal: two lambs for every ewe. Completed May 1998.

Bats at Foster Road: Loop 306 and Foster Road overpass. From March to November a colony of free-tail bats occupies the crevices on the underside of the bridge. As many as 184,000 bats have been recorded. Best time for viewing is at sunset.

Angelo State University Planetarium: ASU’s Vincent Nursing-Physical Science Building, 942-2188. The ASU Planetarium is the fourth largest planetarium in the nation among universities. An array of programs are created for students and the public with three-dimensional views of the universe. Shows are at 8 p.m. each Thursday when ASU classes are in session. Admission: $3 for adults and $2 for senior citizens and children. Free for ASU students, faculty and staff.

Historic Concho Avenue: Downtown, between Chadbourne and Oakes streets. The first street in San Angelo offers a colorful glimpse into the past through an eclectic group of shops that includes restaurants, antiques and unique gift items.

Cactus Hotel:www.cactushotel.net 36 E. Twohig Ave., 655-5000. This historic 14-story building was constructed in 1929 and was one of Conrad Hilton’s first hotels. It is now home to several civic organizations, small businesses and restaurants and limited living spaces. The building, which includes an impressive lobby and second-floor ballroom, is open daily free of charge. Rooms may be rented for various functions.

Concho Cruises: Boat cruise on Lake Nasworthy and along Historic Concho River

Concho Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Entrance to San Angelo Regional Airport/Mathis Field, south of the city on Knickerbocker Road. This notable memorial, established by the Concho Valley Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 457, includes a UH-1H Huey helicopter that served in combat during the Vietnam War. The memorial is dedicated to the sacrifices and courage of those who served in Vietnam.

El Paseo de Santa Angela: South of the Concho River near downtown San Angelo, 653-9577. El Paseo is a heritage trail linking the past and the future of San Angelo. Pathways, two pavilion buildings and a tiered plaza connect Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, the Railway Museum of San Angelo at Historic Orient-Santa Fe Depot and the Concho River. The area is home to an open public mall and market place, a restaurant and the “Old Town” historic district.

Fairmount Cemetery: San Angelo’s city-owned cemetery was founded in 1893 and is designated a Texas Historic Cemetery. Created as a sacred, park-like setting, it is the final resting place for many notable citizens whose names appear on San Angelo landmarks and for over 1,400 veterans dating back to the Texas War of Independence. With over 33,000 deceased interred, Fairmount remains an active cemetery continuing to sell spaces and conduct burial services. It is a natural place of beauty and art where new generations study and celebrate the lives of those who rest there. Cemetery Office Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday Membership information available: www.friendsoffairmount.org

International Water Lily Collection: Civic League Park, at the corner of Pecos and N. Park streets. The collection features many rare lilies with both day and night bloomers in-season. The lily collection is open to the public, free of charge at any time.

Old Chicken Farm Art Center:www.chickenfarmartcenter.com 2505 Martin Luther King Drive, 653-4936. Housed in an old chicken farm, the center has a unique, colorful collection of studios, galleries and educational facilities. The art center also features several special events throughout the year, including art days for both adults and children. Open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday, free admission.

The Concho Pearl: Concho pearls have been found in the natural waterways of West Texas for at least 400 years. Freshwater mussels, unique to this area, produce lustrous pearls in natural colors ranging from soft pinks to vivid lavenders. They can be purchased in jewelry stores throughout the city.

Old Town: Orient St. This historic district serves as repository for restored endangered historic buildings, providing a glimpse of early architectural styles. Structures on the site include: the Zenker House, an 1880s bank building, a 1909 Victorian residence, the Camunez grocery store, and a tiny 1880s home.

Producers Livestock Auction: 1131 N. Bell St., 653-3371. The largest sheep auction in the United States and the largest cattle auction in the Southwest. Sheep auctions are held every Tuesday; cattle auctions are held every Thursday.

River Walk: Downtown along the Concho River. This scenic stretch features a four-mile jogging trail, gardens, plaza area, 14 water displays, children’s playground, RiverStage, San Angelo Visitor Center and a nine-hole golf course.

West Texas Collection:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 1910 Rosemont, 942-2164. Like a family scrapbook, the West Texas Collection contains the memories of occasions both momentous and mundane for West Texas. Those memories are captured in correspondence, through business records, in photographs and on tape recordings. The West Texas Collection is a division of the Porter Henderson Library at ASU. www.angelo.edu/services/library/wtcoll/index.html

E.H. Danner Museum of Telephony:Officers Quarters #4, Fort Concho. Named for E.H. Danner, former General Telephone Co. President. Exhibits include more than 100 antique telephone displays, original telephone directories dating back to the 1800s, and an authentic switchboard from 1910, one of Alexander Graham Bell’s original telephones.

Fort Concho National Historic Landmark:www.fortconcho.com 630 S. Oakes St., 481-2646. The fort, founded in 1867 as a frontier outpost to protect early West Texans against unfriendly Native Americans, drew settlers who founded San Angelo. Seventeen buildings on the fort grounds have been restored and five have been reconstructed. Periodically, living history demonstrations are held at the fort. Attractions on the fort grounds include the E.H. Danner Museum of Telephony, Concho Valley Pioneer Heritage Center, the Robert Wood Johnson Frontier Medical Museum, officers’ quarters and a reference library (open by appointment). Guided and self-guided tours are available. Fort hours are 9:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 1–5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and military, and $1.50 for children 6–17.

Railway Museum of San Angelo at Historic Orient-Santa Fe Depot:703 S. Chadbourne St. 486.2140. The museum houses depot memorabilia and artifacts, including a permanent model train layout depicting San Angelo in 1928, when both the Santa Fe and the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient railroads were in operation in the city. The restored depot houses the Railway Museum of San Angelo. Two locomotives, a boxcar and a caboose are on permanent display. The depot collection is open to the public year-round 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturdays. Admission: $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for children ages 12 and younger. Featured annually during Santa’s Santa Fe Christmas Show on Friday and Saturday nights starting in December 1st – 18th from 6:00pm – 9:00pm.

San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts:www.samfa.org 1 Love St., 653-3333, . Exhibits of all cultures and time periods are complimented by close to 300 programs offered annually. These include adult workshops, children’s art classes, lectures, a cooking show and a Chamber Music Series. The Education Studio is home to children’s art activities, known as “Art Thursdays,” which occur weekly 2–6 p.m. from August to June. SAMFA also is home to the San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, an event widely recognized for its importance in the art world. Open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday and 1–4 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $2 for adults, $1 for senior citizens and free for children age 6 and younger, students and the military.

San Angelo Nature Center:7409 Knickerbocker Road, 942-0121. The center includes a museum with changing displays to show the ‘‘hidden wonders of West Texas,’’ including live animals and an interpretive garden. The museum’s Discovery Room allows children to feel and play with the exhibits. The center also features a nature trail, located on Spillway Road, which is open free to the public during daylight hours. It includes three different ecosystems found in West Texas—semi-arid, wooded and wetlands. Spring Creek Wetlands is a 260-acre property developed as a recreational and educational area. More than seven miles of trails lead visitors through terrain that changes from a semi-arid environment to a freshwater marsh. Open noon–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday all year. Museum admission: $2 for ages 3 and older.

Miss Hattie’s Bordello Museum:18½ Concho Ave., 653-0112. For almost 50 years, Miss Hattie’s served as a “gentlemen’s social center.” In its original location on Concho Avenue, the museum remains furnished much as it was during its heyday. Guided tours: 4 p.m. Monday–Wednesday, and each hour from 1–4 p.m. Thursday–Saturday. Admission: $5 per person. Group rates for 26 or more are available.

Angelo State University Theatre• The Lion Winter: Oct. 11-13, 18-19 • It’s a Wonderful LIfe: A Live Radio Play: Nov 21-24, 21-22• The Musical of Musicals, the musical: Feb 14-16, 21-22• The House of Brenda Albat: April 24-27, May 1-3

New Art Projects• Art in Uncommon Places: group – mosaic displays along the Concho River, functional works of art with incorporated items such as benches and picnic tables. Also new are the Trinity Sisters and Working Cowboy art This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DISCLAIMER: Scheduled events are subject to change. Recommend calling or visiting website(s) for verification. For additional information on these events go to: www.visitsanangelo.org

September 2013• A Taste of San Angelo: The San Angelo Restaurant Association yearly fundraiser. Get a taste of all the great food San Angelo has to offer and a silent auction. 9/10 • Fort Concho Speakers Series: throughout September • Cactus Music Series: 9/13• Fiestas Patrias: Diez y Seis de Septiembre, or September 16th, celebration commemorating the beginning of the 1820 uprising that eventually drove the Spaniards out of Mexico. A historical pageant, coronation of the Fiestas Patrias queen and her duchesses, dances and an array of food booths. Held at El Paseo de Santa Angela. • Lily Fest: A tour of the International Lily Collection given by Ken Landon. 9/21• Lone Star Music Fest: One of the top rated music festivals in Texas featuring Texas bands. An all day event at the River Stage, downtown San Angelo. • National Museum Day at San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. • SACOC Business Expo: 9/26

November 2013• The Old Chicken Farm Art Center Open House: Friday through Sunday Open House featuring works from invited artists featuring jewelry, mosaics, woodwork, hand-sewn and handcrafted items and more. Live music, restaurant and something for the entire family. 11/29 – 12/1

December 2013• A Christmas Fiesta, San Angelo Symphony: 12/7• Christmas at Old Fort Concho: This three-day event celebrates San Angelo’s heritage and the holiday season. Features a central theme carrying out the traditions of the late 1800’s. Events include Winter Rendezvous, a living history display of military and civilian encampments. Wagon rides, cowboy poets, special food presentations, cavalry, artillery and infantry demonstrations and campfires. More than 100 merchants, food booths, dancers, singers, live music. 12/6 – 12/8• Concho Christmas Celebration: The San Angelo Christmas Lights is a spectacular array of Christmas lights in El Paseo de Santa Angela and along the River Walk area. More than 3 million lights, large scale animated scenes. Held all month. 12/6 – 12/31• Santa’s Santa Fe Christmas: The Historic Orient Santa Fe Depot comes alive with operating model train layouts of all gauges, highlighting the Christmas motif. Open on Friday and Saturday nights. 12/6 - 12/28• Nutcracker: A Ballet; The story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads. 12/19 - 12/22 Visit: sanangelocivicballet.org• Tuba Christmas: An Event where musicians gather on the steps of City Hall and perform holiday songs. 12/14, noon at The Height Baptist Church

February 2014• San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo: One of the Top 10 rodeos in the nation based on total purse and celebrating its 79th year of existence, the San Angelo Rodeo brings in the top cowboys and cowgirls in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association every year. For a city of less than 100,000 people, an event of this caliber is virtually unheard of. The people of San Angelo are no strangers to rodeo as they are deeply rooted in the sport. Our town has been coined a “Cowboy Town” not because of two weeks dedicated to cowboys and cowgirls in February, but because year-round, that is what we do. The western way of life is the only way of life in San Angelo and we are proud to host one of the longest-running rodeos in the world. 2/14 –3/2 • Buffalo Soldier Heritage Day: Fort Concho,• 30th Annual San Angelo Wine & Food Festival: Gourmet dinner, wine and food pairing class with a celebrity chef and wine and food tasting with Texas and international wines. Sponsored by the San Angelo Cultural Affairs Council. 2/8 Visit: sanangeloarts.com

May 2014•Cinco de Mayo: The Southside Lions Club celebrates the Mexican holiday and its music annually at El Paseo de Santa Angela. The celebration includes food and vendor booths, music, dancing and more. 5/5• Blacksmith Fellowship: Sharing the love of the craft and demonstrations. • 6th Annual Simply Texas Blues Festival: 5/10• Armed Forces Day:• Memorial Day Exercises, Fort Concho.

June 2014• Juneteenth Celebration: A city-wide celebration of the emancipation proclamation in Texas, the local Juneteenth celebration includes a banquet and a parade, with Fort Concho’s Buffalo Soldiers Unit participating. The event is primarily conducted in Martin Luther King Park. • Showdown in San Angelo: Lucas Oil Drag Boat racing at Lake Nasworthy - a unique and exciting family-oriented event. 6/27 - 6/29

July 2014• July 3rd Pops Concert: Tribute to America’s birthday includes performance by the San Angelo Symphony, a laser light show and fireworks. 7/3• National Cowboy Festival: Event honoring the cowboy heritage held at various locations in San Angelo. • Wake the Desert: Wakeboarding Contest at Lake Nasworthy.• Holiday Artillery Salutes at Fort Concho: 7/4

In 1867 the United States Cavalry established Fort Concho along the banks of the river. The fort was built to protect frontier settlements, patrol and map the vast West Texas region, and quell hostile threats in the area. An enterprising merchant and businessman, Bart J. DeWitt, began a settlement across from the fort in 1870. Initially called Santa Angela in honor of his wife, the town grew into a community that provided services to Fort Concho. In 1881, residents unfamiliar with proper Spanish grammar corrupted the name to San Angela. The name was later changed in 1883 by the U.S. Post Office in order to correct the grammatical error to the masculine San Angelo. Today, San Angelo is a thriving community with a friendly spirit and resolve that reflects its pioneer heritage.